s particular
heavyweight will not be in fighting trim again for some months. A
heavy responsibility for you, Mr. Pratt."

Jacob smiled.

"I didn't engage him," he said.

"In a sense, perhaps, you did not," the Marquis admitted, "but yours
appears to be the hand which maimed him. The Glasgow Daisy, as I
believe he is called in pugilistic circles, appears to be a person of
considerable determination, not to say obstinacy. He declines to leave
the Castle until he has received at least five hundred pounds on
account of his injury. I left him arguing the matter with Mr.
Montague. The interview promised to be a stormy one."

Jacob laughed softly.

"I hope he gives them both a hiding," he remarked.

The Marquis coughed, and, coming a little nearer to the grating,
scrutinised Jacob with some surprise.

"You seem to be keeping very fit," he observed.

"Doing me a lot of good, this change of diet," Jacob assured him. "We
all eat too much."

"Nevertheless," the Marquis proceeded, "we feel that it is time our
little enterprise was ended. I have a fancy to have you for a
neighbour, Mr. Pratt."

"Very charming of you," Jacob replied. "So far as I have seen anything
of the country around, I like it."

"That," the Marquis rejoined, "simplifies matters. The Lasswade Moor
Estate, adjoining mine, is yours for fifty thousand pounds. I have the
agreement in my pocket. To-morrow the price will be fifty-five
thousand, and the next day sixty thousand."

"When can I inspect the property?" Jacob asked.

The Marquis coughed.

"I fear," he replied, "that there will be no opportunity for anything
of that sort. You must take my word for it that the land which,
although fortunately unentailed, has been in the possession of my
family for centuries, is in every respect desirable."

"Moorland and boulder-strewn heath, I suppose?" Jacob queried.

"It possesses the characteristics of common land," the other admitted.
"It would make an excellent golf links."

"Nothing doing," Jacob decided. "When I buy an estate, I shall want a
house with it."

"A mansion suitable to your requirements could easily be built."

Jacob shook his head.

"The idea of building a modern house in such a spot," he said,
"distresses me."

"I understand, then, that you decline to purchase my property?" the
Marquis asked regretfully.

"In toto and absolutely," was the firm reply. "In other words, I am
not having any."

"In that case," the visitor announ